Springtime in Seattle....

Perhaps, you may have wondered, what are those two up to these days?  Enough time has passed that it is now Spring time in Seattle.  The days remain cool and wet; weather is a major topic.  Either you're for it or against it; no in between.  The real winner is the moss...

Buds are popping, flowers are blooming and 
we find 

hope in a new season.

Already our garden is beginning to look beautiful.....

Here in Seattle, we have mandatory recycling of just about everything, including yard and food waste.  Each year we are rewarded with the bounty of our efforts--very beautiful compost...Kim and I loaded up.

While beauty abounds outside, this year we have also decided to do some long overdue inside work.  We have gotten rid of our standing book cases and are having new built in shelves added.

Most of you know that we live in a small house.  We have a bedroom and our new, soon to be, new library....We have had to do lots of emptying to get the room ready.

The built in aspect begins....

Tools of the trade....

Well!  Where did you think we would put all the "items" from the old room to prepare for the new??  We are all working hard to maintain our sense of humor...

Parts are coming together...

the wood is simple, beautiful fir...

Each day when we come home, there's more progress 

being made...

Here is Toni, our carpenter extraordinaire!  Talk about a good sport....look at her working conditions.  The cedar gives her coverage from our damp weather.  Have I ever mentioned that the trees name is Goliath? (For obvious reasons.)

Tell me again...

just WHO is the good sport???

If things do not change soon, I may have 

to use my super powers....

YIKES, more to follow.  Stay tuned.

Time to Say Goodbye....

Fremont Place Book Company is/was an small independently owned book store in the Fremont area of Seattle, WA. It was a successful business for 22 years.

Kim owned the store for 12 1/2 years; Henry has owned it for the past 6+ years.

Gabrielle, Henry's partner has been an integral part of the store.

This last week, Henry made the painful decision that the store 

is no longer viable and must close.  

On its last day, Kim joined Henry behind the counter, ringing up the throng of patrons....

Hmmmmm.  Where have these folks been in the last months??

 

Henry takes it all in...it's a painful goodbye and ending.

Children's Section

The painful truth.

Emptying shelves...

Good bye customer service--where they really did care.

This little rocker has been here almost 20 years!

We Can't Turn Back....

 

While wandering the store and waiting for Kim, I looked

in the employees only section and this is what I saw.

 

More customer service just waiting to serve...

 

While Kim owned the store, I can't tell you how many hours I sat in this chair, waiting for her to finish whatever tasks so that we could head home.

 

In Seattle, Fremont is a very popular destination.

 

A local landmark.

 

The clock was ticking.

 

This curtain hides the sink area.  Seeing it brought forth many memories.

 

Kim and one of her managers, Ann.

 

It's a huge loss to many people...

 

The wrapping paper keeps a strong upper lip.....

 

This store will be greatly missed. 

Technology, the pursuit of the cheapest price, corporate profits...

Makes me want to go home and curl up with a Kindle.

 

I know. I know.

All things change and time does march forth. 

Change happens. 

Life goes on. 

Out with the old, in with the new. 

Adapt or get out of the way...

Yet, I still can't help but be a bit sad

for the passage of time

and 

some of the inevitable changes.

It was a great run!

Thanks!!

Winter Paradise....Lucky Us!

I just cannot believe that I have gotten to posting this! Yikes and OMG! Life has high jacked me. Instead of blogging I've been writing papers for my community college adventure.
In any case, in J A N U A R Y Kim, Siegy, and I went down to Palm Springs to visit newly transplanted John and Clayton.

It was beautiful.

Clayton, Ice, Kim, Siegy and Fire...

John...

Instead of Winter holidays, we did January in Palm Springs.

It was pretty tough hanging out there....

Not much to do but lie around....

Or sit and talk...

Night time in Palm Springs involved good food and drink a n d friends!

Day time also brought good food......

Two amazing little gals! Fire on the left and Ice on the right.
They were exceptionally happy to meet all of us.

How about the 80's during the day and beautiful sunsets.

We danced after dinner....

We played Wii

Palm Springs is so full of entertaining opportunities!

Palm Springs is chock full of fresh grapefruit...

and lemons. They were incredible!!

Breakfast morning hosted by John & Clayton...
We were in Spa Land!!

Views of their beautiful home...

Like I said, Spa Land.

At night the fire pit glowed warm and full of friendship.

Yes, it's true that I brought fruit back in my luggage (and Kim's). Siegy passed.

I'm hoping we can do this again next year. Advantages: No holiday rush. No having to go to work or keep to visiting schedules. We just were able to be with one another and relish our time together. Lucky us! Thank you boys!!

Thank you.